Nov. 17, 2005

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Thursday, November 17, 2005) Gymnastics Head Coach Tom Farden has announced the signing of three prep standouts to national letters of intent to compete for the Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team in next season. Amber Garlotte, Jena Nguyen and Rikara Turner each announced their intentions to compete for Southeast during the NCAA's Early Signing Period.

Garlotte is an in-state recruit from Lee's Summit where she is a member of Eagles Gymnastics in Kansas City, Missouri coached by Kim Fuchs and Kellie Tomlin. A Junior Olympics qualifier she was a Level 10 National qualifier in the all-around in 2005 after placing third on the floor and all-around and fourth on the vault, bars and beam at the Region 4 Championships. At the Missouri State Championships she finished first on the floor.

In 2004 she qualified to Level 10 Nationals. She was the 1st alternate in 2003 for Level 10 Nationals. In 2002 she finished first in the all-around at the Region 4 Championships. At the 2002 Western Championships she finished third on the floor and eighth in the all-around.

Academically she has made the Principal's Honor Roll the last three years at Lee's Summit High School where she has accumulated a grade point average of 3.8. She also a member of the Outstanding Students of American Leadership Program.

She was a teammate of current Redhawks Maureen Grimaldi and Erika Thomas last season as a member of Eagles Gymnastics.

"Amber has an incredible vault that's sure to be a crowd pleaser," said Coach Farden. "Her floor routine is packed with bonus and outstanding dance. I firmly believe that Amber will be in our line-up and her future as a D-I gymnast is limitless. She comes from a great family and we welcome her to our gymnastics family."

Jena Nguyen

Nguyen stands 5-3 and hails from Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she attends Roosevelt High School and competes for All-American Gymnastics under the tutelage of Gene Luke. She is a Level 10 National qualifier in the all-around and floor exercises where she placed 10th overall on the floor.

In 2004, she again tied for 10th on the floor and finished 16th in the all-around at Nationals.

She is also a Junior Olympic National qualifier earning fourth on floor and sixth on the vault in 2003, 10th on the floor and 16th in the all-around in 2004. In 2005 she finished 10th on the floor

At Roosevelt she is an Honor Roll student as well as a member of her track and cheerleader teams. The daughter of Hai and Paula Nguyen she chose Southeast over Minnesota and Iowa State and plans on majoring in pharmacy.

"Jena is a consistent performer that has competed at the Junior Olympic National Meet and done extremely well," said Coach Farden. "In the past two years she has place 10th on floor and in 2004 she finished 16th in the all around. I expect Jena to compete on all four events for us. She was recruited by Iowa State, Minnesota as well as us and we are elated that she has chosen our gymnastics family."

Rikara Turner

Turner also stands 5-3 and follows a long line of great Southeast gymnasts from the state of Minnesota. A native of Hastings, Minnesota where she attends Hastings High School and competes for Sami Wozney and Mike Hunger for the Twin City Twisters club team.

At the 2005 Region IV Level 10 Regional she finished second on the vault and balance beam and 11th in the all-around.

The daughter of Judith Ratzlaff she picked Southeast over Minnesota, Utah State, Bowling Green, Western Michigan and Southern Utah.

"Rikara is an extremely dedicated athlete," said Coach Farden. "She has an amazing vault, floor and beam and is consistently improving on bars. There is no doubt that she will impact our team on at least three events when she steps foot on our campus. She was recruited by several top-25 D-I schools and we are extremely pleased to have her join Southeast."

"We worked very hard on recruiting this past year and I believe the dividends paid off," said Coach Farden. "The quality of this recruiting class is going to have a huge impact on Southeast Gymnastics for years to come."